King Charles shared 'moving tribute' to Prince Harry's son Archie on his fourth birthday
Topics: Royal Family, King Charles III, Prince Harry, Coronation, Meghan Markle
Joe Harker
Featured Image Credit: Leon Neal / PA Wire / Netflix
Topics: Royal Family, King Charles III, Prince Harry, Coronation, Meghan Markle
King Charles III's coronation fell on the fourth birthday of his grandson Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, Prince Harry's eldest son with Meghan Markle, and the newly crowned King paid tribute on the big day.
While Archie did not attend the coronation, staying in the US with his mother and sister Lilibet while his dad flew over for the ceremony, he was mentioned by his grandfather in a toast a Buckingham Palace.
After the coronation at Westminster Abbey and the royal family appearing on the balcony at Buckingham Palace there was a private family gathering.
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According to the Daily Mail, an invitation had been made to Prince Harry to join his family for the event but he had instead flown back to the US to be with his son on his birthday.
They report that some members of the family 'breathed a sigh of relief' at Harry's absence, but King Charles was 'genuinely quite disappointed that he didn't stay'.
Before the royal family tucked into a lunch - which included coronation quiches and a more 'modern' take on coronation chicken (apparently Charles and Camilla aren't the biggest fans of the dish) - Prince William congratulated his father on one of the biggest days of his life.
The King thanked everyone who had contributed to the day and raised his glass in tribute to William's grandchildren Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, then toasted 'those that weren't there' and wished his grandson Archie a very happy birthday 'wherever he was'.
It was said to be a 'moving tribute' from the King to his four-year-old grandson who lives an ocean away with his family.
Prince Harry has previously said that despite the distance between them he hopes his children will have a relationship with the rest of the royal family, and that they already do with 'some' royals which he said 'brings me great joy'.
Following the release of his explosive memoir Spare, he has said he wants to reconcile with his family, though at the time he spoke on the matter he said he hadn't spoken to his father for 'quite a while'.
The King and Queen will tonight (7 May) attend a coronation 'after party' at Windsor Castle along with family, friends and performances from acts such as Take That, Lionel Richie and Katy Perry.
A number of other big entertainment names were invited to perform such as Elton John and Harry Styles, but many of those asked are currently busy with tours of their own.
Kylie Minogue was reportedly among the big names linked with performing at the coronation concert but according to the Mail Online, she is a 'passionate Australian' and has 'read the room in a country that could very soon become a republic'.
However, she 'admires the royal family and everything that they do' and performed for Queen Elizabeth's birthday in 2018.